North Cowichan Council updates

The 2016 – 2020 Financial Plan was adopted by council, as well as the Tax Rates Bylaw.

Overall the net increase in General Municipal Taxes was 2.30 per cent. In the Tax Rate Bylaw council decided to provide a 15 per cent reduction in the Class 5 – Light Industry tax rate “to make North Cowichan more competitive with other local governments in this job supporting sector of our economy.”

For the average residential homeowners, this will mean a 2.95 per cent tax increase in the General Municipal Tax, which amounts to $56 for the average $320,000 home in North Cowichan.

Council supported a plan to install public access life rings at both Chemainus Lake and Maple Bay Docks.

This initiative is being supported by the Gale family in the hope that these life rings might prevent the kind of tragedy that took the life of Brayden Gale, who drowned last winter in Chemainus Lake.